LUMBERTON, NC (WBTW) – A Lumberton man, who was a Hurricane Matthew victim, won the $2 million Powerball.
Anthony Felder, of Lumberton, said he plans to use the $2 million prize to repair the damage Hurricane Matthew caused to his home, according to Kathleen Jacob, North Carolina Lottery public affairs specialist.
“The flooding damaged the floors and insulation,” Felder said. “We’ll finish those repairs and fix up some other parts of the house. We’ll finally be able to do those little things we’ve dreamed of.”
Jacob says the former truck driver’s good luck happened Saturday when he stopped at Atkinson’s Cigarette Land on West 5th Street in Lumberton.
“I was on my way home from the barber and needed to use the restroom,” Felder said. “I stopped at the first store I could find. While I was there, I figured I’d get a Powerball ticket.”
Felder put the $3 Power Play ticket in his book bag and did not think about it until early Tuesday morning, according to Jacob.
“I heard that someone from Lumberton had a winning Powerball ticket,” Felder said. “I just had a feeling it was mine.”
He looked at the ticket and saw that it matched all five white balls drawn, according to Jacob.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Felder said. “I thought, ‘Wow! Is this for real? Am I dreaming?’”
Felder wasn’t dreaming, and claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. Jacob says after required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $1,410,020. In addition to home repairs, Felder plans to get a new black F-150 truck.
Jacob says Felder beat odds of one in 11.7 million to win the $1 million prize. Because the ticket had the Power Play feature, the prize doubled to $2 million when the 2X multiplier was drawn.
